Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-10
in INSANE ASYLUM.
Criticism on the Report of the InVestigat-
ing Committee.
ugg4,, n....-y

We present in this issue of the DemOcTdt
the report of the Committee appointed by
the Legislature to investigate the manage
ment OF the Hospital mt this place. We
think we voice the sentiment OF all fair
minded men in this community who have
given attention tn the evidence before the
committee, when we say that in our iudg-
ment, the report does great injustice to
DIR. Bland, and to the officers of the Hos
pital, and is not warranted by the evidence.
When the names of the gentlemen who
composed the Committee were announced
through the public prints, it was thought
by many here that accidentally or inten'
~tionally the Committee was 80 constituted
~ to be inimical to DR.. Bland. Two Of
the gentlemen cOmpOSingi it were known TO
be offensive partiSans of the worst type,
nd it vas not supposed that they
SO&ld miss an opportunity OF
furnishing party capital for the
benefit Of the Republican party One OF
them and two Others of the Nmittee
were physicians, one, twice a d pointed
applicant for the SuperintendS 4 place,
and all of them supposed not 1~averse
10 assuming Ghe RESPONSIBILITIES ~ the posi-
tlOu, tuC Icu1diuAuS mCAAbCk VI ehS N'uA
mittee was presumed not TO be influenced
by any of the considerations named, and
likely to bring to the consideration OF sub
irets presented To the Committee 4 fair
minded judicial mind. Judging by the
opinion expressed by him here in Weston,
he did this, but unfortunately, was not 80
Constituted rs To be able To resist the pres
sure brought to bear by his associates and
assert independence O~fthOught and action.
As evidencing the bias of another Of the
Committee, he, from time to line during
the investigation, aud before hearing all
all the evidence, wrote letters to his friends
in the Legislature cOndemnatory Of the
Institution, and for which he was severely
criticised on the tlOOr of the House by the
able representative of the county of Gilmcr.
Notwithstanding the untavOrable Opin-
ION of the committee, formed from a cOn-
sideration of its constitution, yet those ac-
uuainted with the very excellent manage
mrent of the Hospital, did not dream hut
that its Investigation would result in Il
complete vindication Of all connected with
t, and surprise and Indignation at the re-
port found expression nom all but some in
tense partisa1s and discharged employees.
We regret that we cannot lay before the
public the evidence upon which the re-
markable report is founded, hut as we IAN
not, we will nave to treat the report as 1t
is. In the meantime, however, Justice and
right demand q suspension Of public judy
ment until the evidence can he produced.
Evidence conclusive tO the minds of II
prejudiced committee may and probably
will not be entirely conclusive to the
public.
An attentive consideration of the report
cannot fail to convince any fair minded
man that 1t is written in Il spirit OF captl-
ms fault finding. 1t Is full of frivolous
matter, m~agniied into into important
dereliction Of duty. That some OF the
directors have taken drinks at the drug
store is published 70 the world as an Of
tense. and yet some Of this same Commit
tee did not have any scruples about samp-
ling the whisky at the Hospital.
That a few strawberries and celery,
sent upon one or two OCCASIONS to the local
Directors by the garlener -certainly Meth
er sent nor received for an improper pur-
pose, but doubtless sent as eyidencng the
efficiency of the gardener,-ls commented
aDon in q manner calculated to create er-
reneoas impression; that attendants OF the
gSSs5Sist@ll 6sSe ( Si1rii5s'iss says persons; not
Convention borrowed TIE hospital hack,
for the reason that ether .conveyance
could not be obtained, and from which no
injury resulted to the State, is held up 10
public condemnation
In fact, every ittk set of omission or
commission however trivial IN itself, that
has occurred during he present admins
tratiOn of the HOSplta, is presented To pub
lie view as an enOrmty unparalleled in any
other institution of SIMILAR character, and
unknown IN the hiStry of the Hospital
heretofore.
The fact that an Examining Board does
not meet at the Hospital every time a pa
tient is received, is Sesrely criticised, and
in the vivid ~imaginatio of the Committee,
the possibility OF the omission into the
Hospital of inebriates, iiOts, and even sane
persons, troubles thei inventive minds
like q nightmare.
This is but at Ieastl violation of the
letter law, and q viOlatDn which has con-
stantly taken place sinethe foundation of
the Hospital, and throRh each successive
administration. The Superintendent and
one member of the Bod constitute this
"lttee. No director 5 presumed to be
,say Competent to pass pom such a ques-
On, ana should the Boar meet the Direc-
wSuiu IN all probability be governed
a5 TIE opinion of the superintendent.
ly patient received il xamined by the
superintendent or one kthe assistants
anu none 0 them - anfhasahle qaaeks.
hasm very Instance y h any doubt
4 Poar5 lSen As 10 The sRIsyd . pakieat, the
Inc local Board, II eoipaliss 81 e6mpIytf
literally with this law. would be reon;raS
70 deyote about 100 daS isx wear in The \
serElsss and without ~
Just here we WiILR AL
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